Harpendore #Tcdkcp0Kijvu#Fxgpvwtgu

HARPENDORE #TCDKCP0KIJVU#FXGPVWTGU

Many moons ago a great king sentenced his innocent wife to death, but every night she tells the king a story, leaving the tale unfnished until the next night so that the king would spare her life to hear the ending. This lasted for one thousand and one Arabian nights, until the king fnally released her. This is just one of those tales … Look out for more #TCDKCP0KIJVU#FXGPVWTGU

The Adventures of Prince Camar and Princess Badoura #TCDKCP0KIJVU#FXGPVWTGU

Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp Gulnare of the Sea 6JG Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves GXGP The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor VQ[CIGU The Enchanted Horse QH The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree and the Golden Water VJG The Merchant and the Jinni 5CKNQT The Tale of Zubaidah and the Three Qalandars

The Adventures of Harun al-Rashid, -GNNG[6QYPNG[ Caliph of Baghdad +NNWUVTCVGFD[#PLC)TCO

The Three Princes, the Princess and the Jinni Pari Banou

The Fisherman and the Jinni

The King’s Jester HARPENDORE Published in Great Britain in 2017 by Harpendore Publishing Ltd 34 Priory Road, Richmond TW9 3DF, United Kingdom

The name Harpendore® is a registered trade mark of Harpendore Publishing Ltd

Text by Kelley Townley copyright © Harpendore Publishing Ltd 2017 Illustrations and cover illustration by Anja Gram copyright © Harpendore Publishing Ltd 2017 Arabian Nights Adventures™, names, characters 6JG and related indicia are copyright and trademark GXGP Harpendore Publishing Ltd, 2017™

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any Q[CIGU means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, V without the prior written permission of Harpendore Publishing or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organisation. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to QH Harpendore Publishing at the address above.

You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose the same condition on any acquirer. VJG A Catalogue record for this book is available 5CKNQT from the British Library

ISBN 978-1-911030-04-1 (paperback)

www.harpendore.co.uk CQPVGPVU

The Story of Sinbad the Sailor 9

The First Voyage The Curious Island 15

The Second Voyage The Valley of Gems 33

The Third Voyage The Hungry Giant 61

The Fourth Voyage The Land of 99 the Cannibals

The Fifth Voyage The Old Man 133 of the Sea

The Sixth Voyage The Enchanted River 159

The Seventh Voyage The Last Adventure 185 The Story of Sinbad the Sailor

nce upon a time, in the great Ocity of Baghdad, there walked a porter with a heavy load on his back. He was a very poor man who earned his living by carrying things from one end of the city to the other. Today was very hot and his load was very heavy. He huffed and puffed as best he could but halfway through his long journey he had to stop and rest. The porter slumped against the wall of a particularly grand house where the scent of aloe and jasmine wafted and the pavement was sprinkled with rose

9 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The Story of Sinbad the Sailor water. As he wiped his weary brow on someone looking down at him through his dirty clothes he could hear laughter the window. He was a fnely dressed and merriment coming from within. A older gentleman with a neatly trimmed little peek through the window flled white beard and was most likely the him with awe and jealousy. A group owner of this house. of fne people in rich clothes were The porter was afraid. sharing a large meal without a care in ‘I’m so sorry,’ he grovelled. ‘I meant the world, while he slaved away in the no offence. I merely lost my temper burning sun carrying this heavy load because I am so thirsty and tired. for a pitiful number of coins. Please forgive me.’ ‘How unfair and cruel the world is,’ ‘There is nothing to forgive,’ smiled he cried, ‘when one is so rich and the the man. ‘Please, come inside and other so poor! Curse the man who have some food and drink with us.’ lives here, who enjoys a life of ease and The poor man shook his head. plenty while I can’t even afford to feed ‘Oh no, I couldn’t possibly. It my family!’ wouldn’t be proper.’ ‘I’m sorry you feel that way,’ said ‘I’m not really one to follow the a voice. rules,’ said the man. ‘My name is The porter looked up in horror to see Sinbad and it would honour me greatly

10 11 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The Story of Sinbad the Sailor if you came into my home.’ Sinbad patted him on the shoulder. The porter didn’t know what to say, ‘My friend, I am glad that it was my and the next thing he knew Sinbad was house you rested by today, for I know coming out of his front door to steer it can seem unfair when you look at him inside. such good fortune and see your own ‘My load …’ the porter said hardships. But I want you to know nervously. ‘I must deliver it.’ that I have truly earned this position. I will ask two of my servants to do it You see, I was once like you, without for you,’ said Sinbad with a confdent a penny to my name, but I sailed the smile. ‘Today you are my guest.’ seven seas and had adventures you Inside, the other guests greeted the wouldn’t believe, experiences you porter warmly despite how obviously couldn’t imagine. And now I use the shabby he was. Sinbad himself poured wealth I gathered to make the world a the porter a large drink, and then sat better place for all.’ him to his right at the head of the ‘I am very sorry to have judged you so table. Food was passed his way and, harshly,’ the porter said humbly. ‘It was with a belly tight from so many years silly of me to assume something about of hunger, the man fell upon the feast someone I know nothing about.’ with nervous delight. ‘Would you like to get to know me?’

12 13 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage The Curious Island asked Sinbad with a grin. ‘Would you like to hear of my adventures?’ A great cheer went up from around the table as the other guests agreed with the idea. ‘Yes, let’s hear them all,’ cried one of hen I was a young man my the guests, grabbing the wine bottle to Wparents left me a sum of money. share out in preparation. Instead of saving the money and ‘Not again,’ moaned another guest, spending it wisely, however, I spent it but he too poured himself a drink and all on fne living and frivolous things settled back into his cushions. that soon disappeared. Quite soon I And so these are the tales of the realised I had no money left at all, and seven voyages of Sinbad the Sailor … no future prospects. I needed to fnd work, but in my foolish youth I had learned no skills. No one would give me a job. In the end I had to sell what I had left – my house, my furniture, my fne clothes – and use the money to sail

14 15 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island aboard a merchant’s ship with the buying and selling, trading our goods. intention of buying and selling my way I really began to love the open water into a new fortune. Oh, did I give the and the fresh salt air. other merchants a good laugh when The better we all did the further I swaggered across the deck with my we dared to travel until one day, in distinctive red turban around my head, uncharted waters, we came across a only to be violently seasick for the frst curious island. It seemed to be foating few days, and then discover my freshly freely, a small oasis of tufty sea-grass bought supplies had gone rotten, and and young palm trees. With the scent that my herd of goats were all male of adventure and the hope of fresh and so wouldn’t breed or give milk! water some of the sailors and I went I could have got angry and vengeful ashore. It was a curious place which at my bad luck, but instead I decided seemed to rumble beneath our feet as to try harder. I listened to the advice we explored. We collected cocoa nuts of the other traders and watched how and flled several barrels with drinking they worked until I fnally began to water from a pool at its centre. It was make money instead of lose it. We had while here that we found out exactly a jolly time then, sailing around the what we had got ourselves into. Persian Gulf, going from port to port, Suddenly a huge jet of water spurted

16 17 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island out of the pool and shot into the air. True enough, it seemed the island It rained down on us as we stared was no bit of land but an actual up in surprise. And then the island creature that we had disturbed with began to sink. The very ground was our feet and now was diving back disappearing into the water. into the depths of the ocean! We all Out at sea we looked at the ship scrambled for the row boat but every where our friends were waving at us step got us wetter and wetter until in panic. there was no more solid ground. The ‘That’s no island,’ they cried. ‘It’s island was gone, the trees uprooted a whale!’ and the sand dissipated. The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island

We swam for the little boat only to that I had never seen before. The see the great tail of the beast, four men surrounding cliffs were high and wide, rise up high out of the water and rugged, but by pulling myself up onto smash back down as it dived. It hit the exposed tree roots I was able to climb row boat and splintered it into a dozen out and escape the cove. pieces. The resulting wave knocked With no sign of the ship or my us all about in the water and I had to friends, I realised I must fnd help grab an empty barrel just to stay afoat. myself, and set off to fnd some people. The current quickly pulled me away The rugged coastline quickly turned from my friends. Soon they were just into a dry, dusty scrubland and I began a speck on the horizon and I felt sure to worry I had made a mistake. There my time had come as I struggled for were no people out here, and surely I a whole day and a whole night, alone would die long before I found anyone. on the open water. Luck was with me, Then I spotted something in the however, as when I awoke from an distance. It moved and shook its head. exhausted sleep I found myself on A horse! I was saved! dry land. As I got nearer I saw the animal was The sand here was coarse and saddled but seemed to be alone. Was unfamiliar, suggesting a strange land it lost like me? And would I be able to

20 21 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island get near enough to catch it? It would horse was lost. Honestly, I didn’t see ease my journey greatly if I could, but you there.’ it might quickly run away if I scared it. ‘Well, you wouldn’t,’ said the man, I crept closer and closer, as slowly as putting his sword away. ‘Because I am I could, downwind so as not to scare a master of subterfuge.’ the beautiful chestnut mare with my With the weapon sheathed I was scent. I had to admit it was a very fne able to turn around and see the old animal. No lowly peasant would own a weathered man. He looked near death horse like this. in age, but there was still an air of I was very nearly there with the horse wilderness about him. eyeing me suspiciously when a voice ‘I may be old,’ he said, ‘but I still got rang out. it. I can hide and track and sneak up ‘Don’t you dare think about on a blundering youth in a bright red touching the king’s horse or I’ll cut turban without any trouble at all. I off your hands!’ used to be in the king’s guard you see,’ I froze with the distinct impression a he said proudly, ‘but after retirement blade had been placed in the small of I became a palace groom.’ my back. ‘Forgive me,’ I said. ‘But which king ‘I’m sorry,’ I cried out. ‘I thought the is that? I have landed here after an

22 23 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island accident at sea and know not where ‘Greetings, great King. My name is I am.’ Sinbad and I have come from a place ‘That’ll be the great King Mihrage,’ far, far away …’ he said. ‘You are lucky I found you. I have a knack for good storytelling, There’s nothing here for miles. We’re as you can tell, and so I wove him only a small island though and I dare a marvellous tale of my travels and say the old king will be glad to hear misadventures with merchants and your tale. Come, I will take you whales. It pleased him greatly and I to him.’ was rewarded with warm hospitality. The island was small indeed, and The island was a fascinating place. So King Mihrage’s palace unimpressive many people from so many different compared to what I had seen before in places stopped their boats here for other great kingdoms, but of course I fresh water and supplies. There was was grateful for a roof over my head. I always something new to see, someone was brought before the grey-haired old interesting to meet. I spent the days sovereign as he sat on his throne. making myself useful, and grew from ‘Welcome, stranger,’ he said. ‘Pray, a youthful lad into a capable young tell us who you are and how you came man. I lost my childish form and grew by our island.’ ft and strong with a handsome beard

24 25 – even if I do say so myself – which explains what happened next. One day, while wandering the harbour and assessing the new arrivals, I saw some boxes being unloaded. In surprise I realised they carried my name, and stopped to examine them further. I recognised at once the captain of the vessel, who saw my interest and was coming over. ‘Hello there,’ he said. ‘These boxes contain beautifully woven The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island rugs from Persia. Would you care to goods! I could sell them here and take a look?’ make enough money to return home – This was the very captain and the maybe even on this ship! very ship I had left home with, but ‘You no longer need to worry about I was amused to fnd he did not that,’ I declared joyfully. ‘For I am recognise me. Sinbad and these are my boxes!’ ‘And how did you come about these I smiled at the captain with my boxes?’ I asked with mischievous glee. arms open wide, expecting great ‘It is a very sad story,’ said the celebration, but instead I was met by captain. ‘We had a young merchant hostility and then aggression. Then the travelling with us, much liked by the captain drew his sword! crew, but he met with a tragic accident ‘Liar!’ he cried. ‘I saw young Sinbad and died. We plan to sell his stock and perish with my own eyes and yet here return any money to his family you stand claiming to be he! How dare back home. you say such things in order to steal I wasn’t sure how much of the money his wares! I should gut you like the would have actually travelled back conniving fsh you are!’ home but that didn’t matter any more. I stared at the captain in shock. Had How lucky I was to receive back my I really changed so much that he could

28 29 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The First Voyage - The Curious Island no longer recognise me? The harbour We embraced and all was forgiven. guards came over to investigate the King Mihrage was even more commotion and members of the ship’s delighted by this addition to my crew came to support their captain. miraculous tale and bought many of ‘But it’s true!’ I said. ‘I’m no liar. I am my Persian rugs. They were not worth Sinbad the merchant!’ much back home, but here no one The guards nodded that Sinbad was had seen such fne carpets and they indeed my real name and then one became much in demand, so much of the crew I had known quite well so that I made ten times the amount stepped forward and covered my lower of money I paid for them. Thus after face with his hand to hide my new and buying my passage home on the ship I manly beard. was still able to stock up on items that ‘It is him!’ the man cried. ‘Our were cheap and plentiful here, such as Sinbad has returned! He even still has nutmegs, cloves, pepper, ginger and his red turban!’ sandalwood, but which were rare back The captain lowered his sword and I home and would make me a very rich was fnally able to breathe again. man indeed. ‘You lucky old dog!’ he laughed loudly. ‘I nearly ran you through!’

30 31 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor The Second Voyage The Valley of Gems ‘Is that how you made your fortune then?’ asked the porter as he tucked into the feast at Sinbad’s table. ‘Actually that was just the beginning,’ Sinbad said. ‘For you see, even though I was able to buy a big house when fter several months on land it was I returned to Baghdad and employ Awonderful to be free at sea again. several people to run it, I quickly I loved the excitement of exploring grew bored. When you have sailed the different ports, picking what to the world’s oceans and felt the wind buy and who to sell to. I quickly found on your face, it is hard to sit and do being a merchant was more about the nothing in the stifing city.’ person you are than the goods you ‘So you went travelling again?’ said have to sell. While my fellow travellers the porter in surprise. had similar things to trade, it was I ‘I did,’ smiled Sinbad. with my quick humour and manly beard that made the most money. People liked me and I liked people. Life was good, too good in fact. I became cocky. Instead of helping

32 33 #DQWVVJKUUGTKGU fresh and vibrant and the print inside is clear and The Arabian Nights tales are some of the most beautifully typeset. When placed on bookshelves enduringly entertaining stories ever written. the distinctive spines reveal a wonderful image Compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden that grows as new stories are added: a design made Age, numerous tales depict legends, sorcery and specially for one thousand and one nights’ tales! magic intermingled with real people, places and And with the highest of editorial standards and events. Some tales are framed within other tales attention to detail, this series will delight readers while others are perfectly self-contained. The result everywhere and bring the Islamic Golden Age is a superb collection of richly layered narratives; gloriously to life. whether adventure, historical, tragic, comic or romantic, they have delighted audiences for centuries. #DQWV-GNNG[6QYPNG[ Kelley Townley trained as a teacher and gained Arabian Nights Adventures is a wonderful her MA in creative writing with distinction from collection of children’s books that brings this rich Bath Spa University. She may be found either heritage to life. Instead of a vast compendium writing children’s stories – happily losing herself of stories, each book in the series is devoted to a in the dream world of the human imagination – or single tale from The Nights. The best tales have plotting new ways to engage readers, which are been selected. There are traditional favourites such the same things really. Kelley lives near Bath with as Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and her family, the writer’s obligatory cats and an ever the Forty Thieves and The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the growing number of woodlice. Sailor, and less well-known gems such as Gulnare of the Sea, The Enchanted Horse, The Merchant and the Jinni and more. #DQWV#PLC)TCO Kelley Townley provides masterful contemporary Anja Gram has illustrated numerous children’s renderings of these ancient treasures while Anja books and magazines. Her highly distinctive style Gram’s illustrations are full of the spice, wit and captivates and endears readers around the world. magic of the stories themselves. The series style is She lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. #TCDKCP0KIJVU#FXGPVWTGU

-GNNG[6QYPNG[ +NNWUVTCVGFD[#PLC)TCO

The Adventures of Prince Camar 1 ISBN 978-1-911030-00-3 The complete Arabian Nights Adventures series and and Princess Badoura individual titles are available from leading bookstores or 2 Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp ISBN 978-1-911030-01-0 may be ordered direct from the publisher:

3 Gulnare of the Sea ISBN 978-1-911030-02-7 Harpendore Publishing Limited 4 Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves ISBN 978-1-911030-03-4 34 Priory Road, Richmond TW9 3DF, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)20 3667 3600 The Seven Voyages of Sinbad Email: [email protected] 5 the Sailor ISBN 978-1-911030-04-1 Website: www.harpendore.co.uk 6 The Enchanted Horse ISBN 978-1-911030-05-8

The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree TO ORDER: 7 and the Golden Water ISBN 978-1-911030-06-5 Please quote title, author and ISBN, your full name and the 8 The Merchant and the Jinni ISBN 978-1-911030-07-2 address where the order is to be sent. Contact us for the latest prices (including postage and packing) and availability The Tale of Zubaidah and ISBN 978-1-911030-08-9 information. 9 the Three Qalandars The Adventures of Harun Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to: 10 al-Rashid, Caliph of Baghdad ISBN 978-1-911030-09-6 ‘Harpendore Publishing Limited’

11 The Three Princes, the Princess ISBN 978-1-911030-10-2 All our titles may also be purchased online via our website at and the Jinni Pari Banou www.harpendore.co.uk 12 The Fisherman and the Jinni ISBN 978-1-911030-11-9 For a complete list of titles and the latest catalogue visit 13 The King’s Jester ISBN 978-1-911030-12-6 www.harpendore.co.uk As a young man Sinbad foolishly squanders all his money. With no skills and no prospect of a job, he joins a merchant vessel and sets sail from Baghdad, to trade and seek his fortune in the world. But Sinbad soon discovers he has a taste for adventure and a love for the open water, and before long he has embarked upon seven incredible voyages – seven adventures full of terrifying monsters, enchanted islands, spectacular deeds and unimaginable treasures. So hop aboard with Sinbad and be swept away by tales of peril, heroism, shipwreck and survival. This has to be one of the greatest adventure stories of all time.

Look out for more Arabian Nights Adventures www.harpendore.co.uk

ISBN 978-1-911030-04-1

HARPENDORE 9 781911 030041